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3D printing is booming, but there is a lack of know-how

While Bosch invests worldwide in 3D printers, medium-sized companies often find it difficult to enter additive manufacturing. It’s not so much about cost, but more about the lack of expertise and experience.

07 Mar. 2018

David Schahinian

3D printing is booming, but there is a lack of know-how (Foto: Ultimaker B.V.)

As announced by
Ultimaker
, Bosch 3D printers will be used in Germany, Hungary, China, India, the US, and Mexico to print prototypes, tools, assembly devices, and brackets. The company wants to save time and money and accelerate the market launch of new products. The 3D printing business sector is booming.
IDC market researchers forecast
an increase in global spending on additive manufacturing technologies to around $12 billion this year.

But money alone does not decide on the success of such solutions, Dietmar Frank, Electro Optical Systems (
EOS
) Regional Director of Central Europe believes. In an interview with
it-zoom.de
, he noted that technology has found its way into industrial production. Many companies, however, face great challenges in building up know-how. One reason for this is that there are currently too few well-trained and experienced experts. Especially medium-sized companies would be faced with the question of how to integrate 3D printing into their organization. Because the necessary expertise is difficult to find, it poses a potential investment risk.